Typewriter line stop



E. S. HALL TYPEWRITER LINE STOP Filed June 20, 1954 36 ,7, 1mm umnumnmmm rrrrsv Patented Oct. 8, 1935 PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITER LINE STOP Edwin S. Hall, New Haven, Conn., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 20, 1934, Serial 731,497

19 Claims. (01. 197- 108) This invention relates to typewriter line lock mechanism.

Line'lock mechanisms in common use provide means whereby the operator may set the stop for the right-hand margin at a desired point,

so that as the writing approaches the end of a line, an alarm bell rings, and a few Spaces farther on, the writing mechanism automatically looks, sothat further writing is prevented. If the looking of the writing mechanism takes place in the middle of a word, as it sometimes does, the operator must depress the margin release key to unlock the writing mechanism, so as to complete the word or finish the syllable preparatory to using the hyphen.

This proceeding distracts the attention of the operator from the Work in hand in a time-consuming and exasperating way. As a consequence, a

some accomplished typists prefer not to use the right-hand margin stop at all, depending on an occasional glance or their sense of line length to keep the right-hand margin under control.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved fully automatic line lock mechanism for a typewriter, which will produce an acceptable right-hand margin automatically, relieving the operator of any responsibility for the appearance of the right-hand margin on the work sheet.

More specifically, objects of this invention are to provide an improved line lock mechanism by which a typewriter will operate as follows: After the carriage arrives within a predetermined distance of the desired right-hand margin of the work sheet, an actuation of the line lock mechanism will be brought about automatically at the first operation of the space bar, thus locking the writing action after a word has been ended and before another word can be started. If the word being written is solong that it would project unduly into the right-hand margin if finished, then the line lock mechanism will be automatically actuated at a predetermined point in the travel of the carriage even though this occurs before the end of the Word is reached. In either case, it is desirable that the line lock engage in an audible manner to advise the operator that the keys are locked. The permissive range, during which the actuation of the space bar may bring about an actuation of the line lock mechanism, prior to its actuation by continued travel of the carriage, is to be conveniently adjustable by the operator. Whether the actuation of the line lock mechanism is brought about by the space bar, or by the travel of the carriage, the usual margin release keyis'effective to release the mechanism so that the operator may add another word or words, or finish a word, or complete a syllable preparatory to using the hyphen. After using the margin release key, the line lock mechanism may 5 re-engage or again be rendered effective after the next following word, or by the final stop. Alternatively, the line lock mechanism may be arranged so that no further lockingis possible on that line, and that once the margin release key has been used, further writing on that line is entirely at the discretion of the operator. It is preferred that the space bar also be disabled when line lock mechanism is actuated to lock the printing keys'against operation, so that the escapement cannot be operated to permit the movement of the carriage.

In devising'line lock mechanisms for these purposes, experience shows that one source of difficulty is the lightness of the spring force ordinarily used to move the carriage. If a spring is used to actuate the line lock mechanism, and a holding spring is used tohold the lock out of engagement except when overcome by the travel of the carriage, the holding spring action must be weaker than that of the carriage pull spring, but stronger than that of the writing lock spring. Mechanical advantage may be provided, whereby the carriage pull spring may act to take up the load of the holding spring over a period of sev- 3O eral letter spaces, but if this is done, precision in initiating the permissive range of the lock may be lost. It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby the same light spring may be used both to hold the writing mechanism lock out of engagement, and to actuate it. It is a further object of myinvention to gain precision in initiating the permissive locking range by using this light spring as a toggle, so that whether the line lock will engage or not, is a matter of geometry as to whether the line of thrust of the spring is to one side or the otherof the axis of the lock lever pivot, or the force of said spring is exerted in one direction or' another on the part controlled thereby, the change from one condition to the other being practically instantaneous. It is a further object of the invention to provide means whereby the travel of the carriage in one direction may direct the thrust of the toggle spring toward enagement of the look, while travel of the carriage 50 in the other direction directs the thrust of the toggle spring toward holding the lock out of engagement. 1

' To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear my invention consists in the fea- 55 tures of construction, arrangements of parts and combinations of devices set forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

These and other objects of the invention may be attained with any make of typewriter, by suitable modifications. The changes necessary will vary more or less in detail, according to the construction and arrangement of the parts in different machines. The mechanism illustrated in the drawing is that which is adapted to the Remington noiseless model seven, or the Underwood noiseless 7'7, and the other similar models, and will be readily understood in connection therewith.

The general character of line lock mechanism in which I have shown my invention embodied in the present instance is disclosed in the patent to Going No. 1,883,699.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the different views Fig. 1 is a bottom fragmentary, detail view showing some of the parts at the rear of the typewriter with the improved line lock mechanism of my invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a back view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, of a portion of the same;

Fig. 4 is a top view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

The several views are all arranged relative to each other in accordance with orthographic projection.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the structure disclosed in my Patent No. 1,944,889.

Referring to the drawing, the parts numbered 33-31 inclusive are carried by the carriage (not shown). Rack 30 on the carriage carries the usual right-hand margin on line lock stop 3| adjustably movable thereon by means of knob 32. Permissive stop member 33 may also be carried on rack 39 as shown, and may be similarly adjustable thereon by knob 34. Alternatively, permissive stop 33 might be an adjustable part of stop 3|, as disclosed in my above mentioned patent or it might be adjustably carried on the tabulator rack 36 if preferred and separately adjustable thereon.

Permissive stop 33 is provided with cam activator 3'! to engage an arm 13 on shaft H mounted vertically in bearings in frame 4 of the machine, and having lever or crank arm 12 secured to its lower end. Horse-shoe or C-spring 14 is pivoted at one end on lever 12, and at its other end on arm 42 of a line lock lever 40, the two' pivots for the spring being located as near the ends of their respective arms as possible, and still have enough working clearance between them.

Lock lever 40 is pivoted on screw 44 on frame 4, and its forward end may underlie and be engaged by a tab 24 on universal bar 20 pivoted to frame 4 on screws 23. Universal bar 20 is depressed by the action of every type bar (not shown) of the typewriter. Ann 22 of universal bar extends to operate the escapement (not shown) Arm 2! of universal bar 20 extends under the end of space bar lever 10, and is ordinarily operated thereby thru leg 6| (Fig. 5) of catch 52 which is pivoted on space bar lever by screw I I. Catch 62 has a stop 63 that normally is held against the companion lever ID by spring 64, so that ordinarily catch 62 forms an extension of space bar lever l5. Catch 62 also has hook 55 for engagement with arm 45 of line lock lever 45.

Right-hand margin or line lock stop 3! may 5 engage line lock actuating lever 81 pivoted on screw 82 on rock shaft 85. The lower end of lever 8| is forked for engagement with the tail of lever 83, pivoted to frame 4 on screw 44 and having arm 85 which may engage leg 5| of catch 62. 10

Rock shaft 85 is mounted in bearings in frame 4, and carries arm 58 secured to it, which arm is connected by pull link 51 to the margin release key (not shown). Pull link 51 is also connected by link 56 to lever 55, pivoted to frame 4 by screw 53. Arm 54 of lever 55 may engage arm 55 of line lock lever 40. Lever 55 carries latch 95 pivoted thereon, and attached to frame 4 by spring 94, which serves not only latch 55 but also assists in returning lever 55. The movement of latch 95 on its pivot is limited by stop ears 5| and 59. Leg 91 of latch 95 may engage'arm 11 of lever 12.

As shown in the drawing, the parts are in the inactive or unlocked position to afford an actuation of the printing instrum'entalities. With cam 13 in the position shown, lever 12 holds its pivot for spring 14 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 1) of a line drawn thru the axes of cam shaft ii and pivot 44, and the thrust of horseshoe or C- spring 14 tends to hold lock lever 40 against stop 5 of frame 4 in which position line lock lever 40 is out of the path of tab 24 of universal bar 20.

In operation, as the writing proceeds, the carriage moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. Permissive stop 33 engages arm 13, rocking shaft I! and lever :72 clockwise as the parts are shown in Fig. 1 until the end of the spring 14 connected to the part 72 has swung around and passes a line between the pivots 44 and H at which time the thrust of spring 14 changes almost instantly from that tending to hold the lock lever 45 against stop 5, to that which tends to swing line lock lever 49 over against stop 6, in which last mentioned position the free end of 45 lock lever 48 would be located beneath the tab 24 of universal bar 20 and thus lock it against movement from normal position and thereby prevent a printing movement of the type bars by which the universal bar is actuated.

But movement of line lock lever 40, to lock the universal bar 2|] against actuation, is prevented at this time by hook 65 of catch 62, which engages arm 45 of lock lever 40.

Hook 65 of catch 62 may be disengaged from arm 45 of line lock lever 40 in either of two ways. Operation of the space bar may move space bar lever I0 so as to disengage hook 65 from arm 55.

If however, the space bar is not used before right-hand margin or line lock stop 31 engages line lock actuating lever 8|, the latter engagement will act to disengage hook from arm 55, thru the rocking of lever 8| on its pivot 82, which in turn rocks lever 83 on its pivot 45 so that arm 86 pushes on leg 6| of catch 62, turning catch 65 62 on its pivot II to releasing position.

In either case, disengagement of hook 65 from arm 45 releases line lock lever 40, so that spring 14, acting as a toggle joint, can exert its thrust to swing lever 40 over against stop 6 with a clearly audible click, thereby bringing the forward end of said lever beneath tab 24 of universal bar 2% to lock the type bars against printing movement and informing the operator that the action is locked. While the type bars are 7 tion so that leg 6| is held disengaged from arm 2|, thereby keeping the space bar disconnected from universal bar 20, so that the carriagecannot at this time be advanced by an actuation of T A the line, after the line lock mechanism has been end of arm 54 against arm 45, preventing anythe space bar. Thus at this time the type bars cannot be actuated to effect an imprint and the space bar cannot operate the escapement.

Should it be desired to add more writing to actuated by either of the means described, such mechanism may be unlocked or released by use of the margin release key, which pulls link 51' 'forward, rocking lever 58 and rocking shaft so as to throw the upper end of line lock actuating lever 8| away from the position in which it can engage right-hand margin or line lock stop 3|. At the same time, link 56 pulls lever 55 forward, arm 54 thereof engaging arm 45 of line lock lever 40, moving the latter back against stop 5 to the unlocked position, where it is once more held by hook 65 of catch 62, the latter being pulled back into engagement by spring 64.

When lever 72 was swung into locking or active position as above described by the interaction of permissive stop 33 with cam 73, arm 1'! of lever '52 was brought to bear against the side of leg 9'! of latch 95, causing spring 94 to extend slightly. Now when lever 55 is pulled forward by the margin release key, the tension of spring 94 is thereby increased, and the end of leg 91 slips past the end of arm 1'! and is pulled around in front of it by spring 94. Leg 9?, abutting arm 11, now holds lever 55 in itsforward position with the subsequent engagement of line lock lever 40 by the universal bar tab 24; even if hook 65 should be disengaged from arm 45. Lever 55, thru the interconnection of links 56 and 51, lever 58, and

rock shaft 85, holds line lock control lever 8| rocked away from the path of right-hand margin or line lock stop 3|. As a consequence, once the margin release key has been used, no further lock is possible and further writing on that line is entirely at the discretion of the operator.

.Some operators might prefer to have the line lock function after each word written after use of the margin release key, and by the action of the right-hand margin stop 3|. This method of operation may be had by omitting latch from the mechanism, or by disabling latch 95 by hooking it over stop 59, so that leg 91 would be held entirely free at all times from arm 1'! of lever 12. Then when the margin release key is released by the operator, lever 55 and associated parts, including line lock control lever 8|, would all return at once to the position shown in the draw ing, and the next time hook 65 of catch 62 is disengaged from arm 45, by either of the methods described, lock lever 46 would once more swing into locking position to be engaged by tab 24 of universal bar 26 in an attempted actuation of the latter.

The return of the carriage preparatory to writing the next line, causes permissive stop 33 to engage the other wing or arm of the member :13, returning cam shaft II and lever 12 to the horseshoe spring 14 back to the left (as seen in Fig. 1) of aline drawn through the pivots H and 44 which at once moves or holds lock lever 40 against stop 5 which is the unlocked position.

In copying manuscripts and in legal work 5 where hyphens are not desirable, right-hand margin or line lock stop 3| may be set twelve or more letter spaces behind permissive stop 33, so that the range of action of permissive stop 33 prior to that of stop 3| may be so long that every line will be automatically terminated after a word has been ended. All the operator need do, when the click of line lock lever 40 against stop 6 is heard, is to return the carriage and start a new line. Should the operator fail to heed the click 15 and attempt to start another word, writing is prevented as the keys are locked.

Where hyphens are permissible, and where an even margin is .desirable for the sake of appearance, as in writing letters, final stop 3| may be set close behind permissive stop 33, a distance of from three to five letter spaces being satisfactory. With such a setting, most lines will be terminated automatically after a word has been ended, by the action of the space bar, but occasionally, (as in this instance), a long word which would project into the margin in an unsightly manner, will cause final stop 3| to engage line lock lever 8|, locking the writing action before the end of the word. Then by using the 30 margin release key, the operator may hyphenate or finish the word, as desired. Experience has shown thiscombination of permissive stop 33 withpositive stop 3| to be most desirable in relieving the operator of all responsibility for the 35 right-hand margin on the work sheet, while at the same time producing fully acceptable appearance.

This specification has been typed on a Remington noiseless model seven, in which the present 40 invention has been embodied, and the permissive range has been set at three letter spaces in advance' of the positive stop.

From the foregoing, it is clear that simple and effective mechanism has been provided by which all the objects of this invention may be attained. Altho a specific embodiment of the invention 'has been shown and described, it will be unwood models specified, or for any other make or model of typewriter, may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter having a carriage, a space key, writing keys, and means comprising a universal bar operable by saidspace key and said writing keys-for controlling the travel of said 60 carriage; locking means operable by the travel of said carriage to lock the action of said universal bar to prevent the operation of said type means, means for holding said locking means out of locking engagement, means operable by said 65 space key for releasing said holding means to permit the engagement of said locking means, and means for disconnecting said space key from said universal bar whenever said writing keys are inoperable because of the engagement of said 7 locking means.

2. In a typewriter having a carriage, a space bar, and type means for writing; line stop mechanism comprising means for locking said type means, spring means normally directed toward 7 holding said locking means out of engagement, means whereby the travel of said carriage may direct said spring means toward engaging said locking means when approaching the end of a line of writing, and means associated with said space bar for aiiording an engagement of said locking means after a word has been ended.

3. In a typewriter having a carriage, a space bar, and type means for writing; line stop mechanism comprising means for locking said type means, spring means normally directed toward holding said locking means out of engagement, means whereby the travel of said carriage may direct said spring means toward engaging said locking means when approaching the end of a line of writing, means associated with said space bar for affording an engagement of said locking means after a word has been ended, and means whereby further travel of said carriage may afford an engagement of said locking means.

4. In a typewriter having a carriage, a space bar, and type means for writing; means for looking the writing action of said type means, spring means for operating said locking means, means whereby the travel of said carriage in one direction directs. the thrust of said spring means toward engagement of said locking means while travel of said carriage in the other direction directs the thrust of said spring means toward disengagement of said locking means, means for holding said locking means out of locking engagement when the thrust of said spring means is directed toward engagement thereof, and means whereby the operation of said space bar may release said holding means.

5. In a typewriter having a carriage, a space bar, and type means for writing; means for looking the writing action of said type means, spring means for operating said locking means, means whereby the travel of said carriage in one direction directs the thrust of said spring means toward engagement of said locking means while travel of said carriage in the other direction directs the thrust of said spring means toward disengagement of said locking means, means for holding said locking means out of locking engagement when the thrust of said spring means is directed toward engagement thereof, means whereby the operation of said space bar may release said holding means, and means whereby continued travel of the carriage may release said holding means.

6. Mechanism as specified in claim 4, with manually operable means for unlocking said type means to permit further writing on the same line.

i. In a typewriter having a carriage and type means for writing, means for locking the writing action of said type means, spring means normally directed toward holding said locking means out of engagement, and means activated by the movement of said carriage for redirecting said spring means toward engaging said locking means.

8. In a typewriter having a carriage, type means for writing, and a space bar mechanism; means for locking the writing action of said type means, spring means normally directed toward holding said locking means out of engagement, means activated by the movement of said carriage for redirecting said spring means toward engaging said locking means, and means operable by said space bar mechanism for affording an engagement of said locking means.

9. In a typewriter having a carriage, type means for writing, and a space bar mechanism; means for locking the writing action of said type means, spring means normally directed toward holding said locking means out of engagement, means activated by the movement of said carriage for redirecting said spring means toward engaging said locking means, means operable by said space bar mechanism for affording an engagement of said locking means, and means operable by further movement of said carriage for affording an engagement of said locking means.

10. Mechanism as specified in claim 9, with means for adjusting the range of action of said means operable by said space bar and carriage relative to said carriage and relative to each other.

11. In a typewriter having a carriage, a line stop mechanism comprising a lock lever for locking the writing action of said typewriter, a lever actuated by the movement of said carriage, and a spring as a toggle link connecting said lock lever and said carriage actuated lever.

12. In a typewriter having a carriage and a space key, a line stop mechanism comprising a lock lever for locking the writing action of said typewriter, a lever actuated by the movement 0! said carriage, a toggle spring connecting said lock lever and said carriage actuated lever, means for holding said lock lever out of locking engagement, and means associated with said space key for releasing said holding means.

13. Mechanism as specified in claim 12, with means for releasing said holding means by further travel of said carriage.

14. In a typewriter and like machine, line lock mechanism comprising a spring, and means controlled by the movement of the carriage in one direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to actuate the line lock and controlled by the movement of the carriage in the opposite direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to release said line lock.

15. In a typewriting and like machine, line lock mechanism comprising a spring, means controlled by the movement of the carriage in one direction for causing said spring to exert its efiective force to actuate the line lock and controlled by the movement of the carriage in the opposite direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to release said line lock, means for affording an actuation of the line look by said spring after the latter is conditioned to exert its effective force to actuate the line lock. and means for sounding an audible alarm when the line lock is actuated.

16. In a typewriting and like machine, line lock mechanism comprising a spring, means controlled by the movement of the carriage in one direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to actuate the line lock and controlled by the movement of the carriage in the opposite direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to release said line lock, and means controlled by the space key for afiording an actuation of the line look by said spring after the latter is conditioned to actuate the line lock.

17. In a typewriting and like machine, line lock mechanism comprising a spring, means controlled by the movement of the carriage in one direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to actuate the line lock and controlled by the movement of the carriage in the opposite direction for causing said spring to exert its efiective force to release said line lock, holding means for holding the line lock against the force of said spring when it is conditioned to actuate the line lock, and means controlled by the space key for releasing said holding means.

18. In a typewriting and like machine, line lock mechanism comprising a spring, means controlled by the movement of the carriage in one direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to actuate the line lock and controlled by the movement of the carriage in the opposite direction for causing said spring to exert its effective force to release said line lock, holding means for holding the line lock. against the force of said spring when it is conditioned to actuate the line lock, and means controlled by the travel of the carriage for releasing said holding means.

19. In a typewriting and like machine, line lock mechanism comprising a spring, means controlled by the movement of the carriage in one direction for causing said'spring to exert its effective force to actuate the line lock and controlled by the movement of the carriage in the opposite direction for causing said spring to exert its efiective force to release said line lock, holding means for holding the line lock against the force of said spring when it is conditioned to actuate the line lock, means controlled by the space key for releasing said holding means, means controlled by the travel of the carriage for releasing said holding means, and means controlled by a margin release key for releasing said line lock whether it has been rendered efiective by an actuation of the space key or by the travel of the carriage.

EDWIN S. HALL. 

